Light dispersive optical fiber
US5781679A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 9, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jul 14, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 9, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/2552
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for tapping and distributing light propagating through a polymer optical fiber (POF). Within the polymer optical fiber, one or more mirrors are constructed. At a point in the POF where an internal mirror is constructed, light traversing the POF is efficiently diverted out of the polymer optical fiber upon striking the mirror. The light so diverted passes through a dispersing region such that only diffuse light is emitted and may be put to an advantageous use. Alternatively, a controllable shutter is placed within the polymer optical fiber such that light traversing the POF is diverted out of the polymer optical fiber upon striking the mirror when the controllable shutter so permits. The controllable shutter is variable so that variable amounts of light may be selectively emitted from the POF.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.